A Cincinnati Instant Classic

08/21/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Novak Djokovic Beats Carlos Alcaraz in Another Epic; Coco Gauff Earns 1st Masters 1000 Title

We were going to feature Coco Gauff after the 19-year-old phenom won her third singles event and first Masters 1000 title, then Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz produced another epic battle. By the end of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, it was a 36-year-old Djokovic, nearly twice the age of Gauff, who took home his 39th Masters 1000 trophy. And the U.S. Open warm-up was anything but a “warm-up.” Here’s what happened:

#2 N. Djokovic def. #1 C. Alcaraz (5-7, 7-6, 7-6)

Just one month after their Wimbledon final clash when Alcaraz took down the four-time defending champion, Djokovic got another chance to square up the head-to-head, and he did. Sunday’s finale was the fourth meeting between the two stars in an ever-expanding rivalry between youth and wisdom. Alcaraz fended off a first-set rally from Djokovic to take the lead (7-5) before a resilient Djoker outlasted the kid in back-to-back tiebreaker showdowns for his 39th Masters 1000 title. Upon match point, Djokovic ripped his shirt down the middle in a scene of raw emotion, but the love between the two competitors remains evident and full of class. The pair are now split 2-2 in four head-to-head matchups.

#7 C. Gauff def. K. Muchova (6-3, 6-4)

In Sunday’s women’s final, the arrival of Coco Gauff means excitement for American tennis fans in the upcoming U.S. Open. Gauff upset World No. 1 Iga Swiatek on Saturday before getting a crack at Karolina Muchova in the final, and she delivered a straight-set beatdown. It’s not Gauff’s first event win, but it is her first Masters 1000 victory, marking the inevitable rise of Gauff into the elite players of women’s tennis. She’s the youngest champion of the Cincinnati Open since 1968.

Tennis Tune-Up: Djokovic (39) continues to hold the all-time record for Masters 1000s while Gauff puts her first in the record book. The U.S. Open begins with qualifying this week before next week’s first round (Aug. 28).

Yahoo! Sports: Coco Gauff Downs Karolina Muchova for Biggest Title of Career in Cincinnati

Photo: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images